Reinforcing device for silos.



F. P. CORY.

REINFOROING DEVICE FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18. 1912.

1 1 09,045, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 7 ATTORNEY UNITED STATESTOFFEE FRED scorer, or 'saerivriw, MICHIGAN, AssIGnoia Fl QiFABM-ERQ HANDY wA oN co., l or saenvnw, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION orgaroniea vr I.

' ,"nioaoaa.

To all whom it may concern na'w, in the county of Saginaw and State of Mlchigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iii-Reinforcing De vices forSilosyand I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact .de-

scription "of the invention, such as will "en able others skilled in the art to which it" appertains toinake and use the same.

This invention relates to silos and pertains more particularly to means for reinforcing silos constructed 'of' staves and bound t gether'by external hoops or bands.

sidewise pressure of severewind storms and hurrlcanes.

1:11 ihaveQfound in practice that the most frequent cause of collapse of silos when empty and subjected to such heavy wind pressure as above referred to, is due not only to the actual caving in of the side of the silo on account ofthe pressure against it, but is also due to a slightslipping lengthwise of some of the' staves with respect to the adj as cent staves, thus allowing the entire structure to take a tilted or leaningposition,

changing the horizontal cross-section, of the silo from that of a circular to a somewhat elliptical shape. This weakens the structure a l and one ofthe sides is liable to give way by collapsing inward. 1 j

My lnvention provldes reinforcing means independent of the hoops of the' silo,which normally perform only the function "ofbinding the staves together to form a cylindrical shell- This reinforcing means consists in a horizontal stiffening rib applied to the outside of the silo and fastened to theistavesin such manner as to reduce their tendency to slide past each other and allow the silo to lean, while the circumferential expansion and contraction of thesilo in no wise is interfered with. The stiffening rib also reinforces the staves against collapsing inwardly when subjected to extraordinary wind pressure.

With these and certain other objectsin view which will appear later in the specifi cation, my invention consists in the devices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof. I v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 i Specification of Letters Patent: Application filed December 18,1912,

"nn nroncInG Device roesitos s rial No.'f737,531

' k a front vie w"of a silo with my imp'roveinent applied thereto; Fig, 2 is a detail in perspective showing parts of three staves top view par'tly' i'n sect1 on,show1ng a 'num-v f with a stiffening rib in-i place; Fig-[3 is 'a Sept. 1, 1914.

her ofassembled staves with the stiffening I v ribinplace; and Fig. 4: is a side view showin'ga preferred form of bracketby which the stiffening ribis applied to the staves."

device is appjliedtoasilo composed of the usual staves 1 l bound together by metal I or more circumferential stifiening ribs 3 The objects of the improvement are to provide means for preventing the collapse of a stave silo when empty and subjected to which are secured to the outer faces ofthe silo stavesbjy ineans of' suitable brackets 4. These brackets ar preferably secured to; the staves'by means of lag screws, wood screws, or other suitable device 5, there being prefer- As ISClGaI'lYSlIOWII 1n the. drawings, the

ably two offsuch 'screwsforleachi bracket,

oneabove and one below the stifie'ning rib. The bracket is providedwith a recess 6 shaped to slidingly receive the stiffening rib.

The stiffening rib preferablycomprises a horizontal flange. 7, projecting a considerable distance .beyond the outer face of the staves in order to impart the required rigidity to prevent'the staves collapsing inward when subjected to heavy sidewi'se wind pres sure. 1 The stiffening ribs are also preferably provided with one or more vertical flanges 8;to give ampleibearing surface against the faces offthestaves;

The stiffening rib may be of and suitable cross sectional shape, as for instance, that of aniangle, channel, T, or any other-of theausual lor well known forms in whichsstructural"steel is commonly made. In practice I prefer to apply a bracket 4: to

every other stave of the silo in order that the brackets maybe so close together as to counteract as mu'ch as possible any tendency of the adjacent staves to slip lengthwise upon, each other and thus permit the silo "to lean.

In practice I prefer that the fastening" screws 5 shall'not'v pass clear through the silo stave in order that the inner surfaces of the staves maybeleft smooth and unobstructed,- but when desired through bolts j without departing from I may be used invention.

' While the seaming rib 3 may be made desired" .ets 4, also increases the resistance to. move make it in several sections rather than in one continuous plece, both for convenience,

cheapness in manufacture, and for ease in.

shipment and erecting. The ends of adj acent sections may be overlapped, as indi-f cated at 9 in Fig. 3. g

It Will be understood that the stiffening rib does not act in the capacity of a binding hoop, but has for its function to impart.

stiffness to the exterior of the shell and act as a curved girder to preventthe inward collapse of the stave. y I

rib, togetherwith the brack- The stiffening ment of the staves past eachother and thus helps to maintain the siloin anupright position. I v

By the means above described I have-produced a stiffening device that acts independent of thehoops to counteract certain tendencies to collapse, which the hoops themselves are not capable of counteracting.

Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: v y 1. In a reinforcing device for silos, the combination with the silo. staves and the externalsilo hoops; of a rib fornied'of sections, which sections have overlapping ends and aplurality of rib-engaging brackets secured to said silo at intervals to slidably receive said rib-sections and retain them from outward movement. I

2. In a reinforcing device for silos, the combination With the silo staves and the external silo hoops; of a substantially L-shaped stiti'ening rib formed of sections, Which sections have overlapping ends and means for slidably receiving said sections, for the purpose set forth. Y

3. In a reinforcing device-for silos, comprislng a flanged stiffening-r b formed of sections, which sectlons have overlapplng ends, spaced brackets secured to said silo and engaging the flange of said stiffening rib to hold same against vertical and outward movement, sald stifiening rib being slldably engaged by said brackets, for the purpose Set forth.

In testimony whereof, I affix my s gnature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRED P. CORY.

Witnesses: I i

WILLIAM A. HOLNAGEL, HARRY W. KINNEY.

Copies of'th-is patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, 310. i 

